PS 3525 
. P2753 
A85 
1922 
Copy 1 

The Awakening 


zA Fantasy of the Out Floors 

BY 

Edgar Carlisle MacMechen 



THE ANT 


c rvx. • p. 3. 

COPYRIGHTED, 1922 
BY 

Edgar Carlisle MacMechen 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



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THE AWAKENING 


9 


PROLOGUE . 


(The curtain parts . revealing the bust of Pan on a pedestal, a moonlit 
forest his background.) 


Pan : 

T O the weary of mind and of heart 
I speak for the fair Out of Doors. 

Come forth from the shop and the mart 
Where the black smoke pours and the factory roars, 
Where the air is poisoned and stale. 

Oh, come to the woods and the hills, 

But come in the spirit of play, 

And there you will shed all your ills, 

When you tread the way where the Woods Folk stray, 
When you learn the lure of the trail. 


Come, where the weary grow wise. 

Where the beaver circles the trees, 

Where the great trout rise to the darting flies. 

Where the lake is rippled by breeze 
And the marmot whistles his lair; 

Where the mule deer dreams bv the foaming streams, 
Where the bull elk bugles his mate 
On the hilltop there, where the solitaire 
Is singing his song; where the sunlight gleams 
On the wild bee’s wing as he drones 
His slumberous way o’er the flow’rs. 

Here is nothing of envy or hate. 

But only the wind, as it moans, 

And only the peace of the hours. 

Come, where the timberline grows, 

Where the ptarmigan hides in the grass, 

Where the cool air blows from the summer snows, 
Bracingly down from the pass. 


But I heard a fay of the wildwood sav: 
“When the foot of man enters here 


... • ©HID 63206 

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THE AWAKENING 


The spirit of peace shall make way 
For the hideous spirit of fear. 

By the firebrand in his careless hand. 

By the refuse piles in his camps. 

By the blackened stumps in the desolate land, 

By the havoc wrought in his tramps, 

You shall know he passed, you shall know at last 
The terrible scourge of man. 

The terror of flood and of fast. 

The weight of his ruinous ban.' 1 

I speak with the voice of the wild 
To the weary of heart and of mind— 

By our plea beguiled, let your hand be mild, 

5 veil from eyes that are blind. 



\ 




4 


THE AWAKENING 


CAST OF CHAKACTERS. 


Pan, the Woodland God. 

Out Doors, the Spirit of the 
Wild. 

General Public, a city man seek- 
ing rest. 

Spruce Tree, Colorado State Tree. 
Protection, a Forest Guard. 

The Moon. 

Evening Star. 

Birthday Cake. 

CREATIVE INFLUENCES 

The Sun, Father of All. 

Mother Nature, Matron of the 
Forest. 

Spring, the Spirit of Creation. 
Rain, 1 

Chinook, j Harbingers of SpRING ' 

DESTRUCTIVE INFLUENCES 

The Demon Fire. 

North Wind, a friend of Fire. 
Cigarette, a servant of Fire. 
The Picnickers: 

Vandalism, Destruction, Con¬ 
tamination, Carelessness, Sel¬ 
fishness, Thoughtlessness. 

Snow Flakes, Fireflies, Autumn 
Leaves, Fleecy Clouds, Flames, 
Blazes, Bats, Bull Frogs, Moon¬ 
beams, Birds and Flowers, 
Ants and Aphids, Mosquitos. 


THE WOODS FOLK. 

Flowers : 

Columbine, Colorado State 
Flower. 

Anemone, a Harbinger of 
Spring. 

Buttercup. 

Indian Paint Brush. 
Larkspur. 

Globe Cactus, a warrior. 

Animals : 

Chipmunk, the Newsboy of the 
Forest. 

Molly Cottentail. 

Weazel. 

Birds : 

Bluebird, a Harbinger of 
Spring. 

Camp Robber. 

Magpie. 

Page to Magpie. 

Oriole. 

The Owl, a Voice of the Night. 

Insects : 

The Ant. 

The Aphid. 

Mosquito. 

Malaria. 

Butterfly. 




THE AWAKENING 


5 


EPISODE I. 

A spring daivn in the Forest. In the foreground a depression forms 
a semi-circular bowl, hemmed in by rocky banks, upon which 
stand pines and spruces. At the foot of the rear bank is a small 
pool 

Pan : (as he speaks his shadow image materializes, then fades out) 

It is the silent hour before the dawn; 

And Mother Nature lies in dream of days 

When summer Sun shall come, and with his sprays 

Of golden shafts, renew the life withdrawn. 

Among the trees I hear the North Wind roar; 

A frosty wraith with scimitar, encrowned 
With Northern Lights; in dizzy, whirling round 
He bids the Snow Flakes dance their last encore. 

North Wind (blowing Snow Flakes before him): 

Come, little Snow Flakes, scurry along, 

Boreas, North Wind, sings you his song. 

Cover the flowers, bury them deep, 

Winter is Monarch, Spring is asleep; 

Zig-zag and waver, weave to and fro, 

Blanket the earth with feathery snow. 

Feet that are silent, treading the air. 

Spirits exquisite, lacy and fair, 

Wraiths of the Pole Star, by my arms tossed, 

Glittering jewels, sisters of Frost, 

Mothers of Ice-bergs (sometime to be) 

Prismatic castles floating the sea; 

Thronging in millions out of the North, 

Out of the Arctic hurrying forth; 

Would you live ever? Then dance on my breath, 

Cover the wide world with beautiful Death. 

(North Wind sweeps on, and the Snow Flakes gradually subside 
a\s he disappears among the trees. Soft, dreamy music floats 
through the air, and the light increases. Bird notes swell to a 
chorus). * i 

Pan: 

The Fleecy Clouds, a winsome group of maids. 

In cloth of gold, in opalescent shades, 

Or draped in rose and orange, trip and run 
With billowed veils, to herald Father Sun. 



THE AWAKENING 


0 


(Fleecy Clouds drift from the trees on either hand, and dance upon 
the rear bank; then form a double line, through which the rising 
Sun strides majestically. The Clouds billow their veils as he 
sings). 

The Sun: 

Behold! The Sun am 1! 

Lord of the earth and sky, 

Father of all! 

Kindly, beneficient, 

Fruitful, magnificent, 

Hearken my call! 

Wake from your winter sleep, 

Wake from your dreams! 

Shafts of the lordly Sun, 

Dancing Sunbeams, 

Down to the wooded hills, 

Dart from the sky above, 

Longingly Nature thrills, 

Thrills to my love. 

I call the Spring to me, 

Sweet maid of mystery, 

Her eyes a-glow; 

Within her swelling breast, 

There stirs a wild unrest, 

The sap streams flow. 

Winter is gone—I come! 

Winter is gone. 

Veiled in their amber robes, 

Robes of the dawm, 

Clouds of the rosy morn 
Herald the Summer Sun; 

Earth, you shall be reborn, 

Spring has begun. 

(The Clouds drift into the Trees). 

Pan (as Chinook enters ): 

A gentle sigh! The Snow Flakes shrink in fear! 

Behold, Chinook, the warm West Wind draws near; 

The first fair Harbinger of Spring. His breeze 
Will send them scurrying beneath the trees. 

(Chinook drives away the Snow Flakes). 




THE AWAKENING 


The Rain descends with leaping, silver feet, 

To drum on Nature’s breast a magic beat 
Until she feels, within her heart, the swell 
And stir of seeds, each straining in its cell. 

(Rain scatters water upon the earth). 

Above the sigh of pines comes, soft and clear, 

A liquid note; and flashing, darting near, 

From leaden winter skies, a bird of blue 
Brings back a patch of pure cerulean hue. 

(Bluebird enters with, zig-zag, curving flight). 

And lo! Behind that lichen-covered stone, 

In coy confusion, shivering alone, 

The sweetest Harbinger of Spring I see— 

The shy Wind Flow’r, the Blue Anemone. 

(Anemone enters , bowing and sivaying gracefully). 

From Winter’s gloomy prison, with a rush, 

Comes Spring, the glowing dawn her glorious blush, 

Her bridal tears the sparkling April show'rs, 

Her every footprint starred with gorgeous fiow’rs. 

(Spring enters, dancing to bright, airy music, courtesies to Sun 
and glides into the dance of Creation. An she concludes North 
Wind sweeps about her with threatening mein). 

With fearsome features, clad in icy mail, 

The North Wind threatens gladsome Spring again, 

Yet see him fly before Chinook and Rain; 

Though ever Death may come, Life shall prevail. 

(Chinook and Rain battle with North Wind, driving him into the 
depths of the forest. Mother Nature bustles about, rousing the 
Woods’ Folk from sleep). 

Mother Nature’s task has not been done; 

She dreads displeasure of her Lord, the Sun. 

With hurried step she bustles to and fro 
To straighten Magpie’s cloak, retouch the bow 
Of sweet Anemone. Beneath the pine 
She looks in vain for tardy Columbine. 

With alternating dash and quiet pose— 

Inquisitive and friendly—with a nose 

For mischief—chirping when he flirts his tail, 

The Chipmunk plays with Molly Cottentail. 







8 


THE AWAKENING 


But Mother Nature has the saucy scamp— 

Behind his ears the fur’s not even damp. 

Though shy, confiding Molly washed her face 
She left her nose in state of sad disgrace. 

Now, interrupted in a mother’s chores, 

Old Nature turns to greet the fair Out Doors. 

(Out Doors enters, girlish, vivid, joyous. She greets the Woods 
Folk happily.) 

Out Doors: 

Oh, look at Magpie! Here is Chipmunk, too— 

Did you sleep warm the long, long winter through? 

Sometimes I envy when the North Wind roars, 

For I am always, always Out-of-Doors. 

And here is Spring, with her sweet, misty eyes, 

Bluebird, too, who brings back summer skies. 

Shy Anemone, I heard your call— 

Good morning, gentle folk, good morning all. 

(Trio.) 

Mother Nature: 

The day of birth has come again; 

We give our thanks unto the Rain, 

The gentle West Wind, too. 

Once more do fur and feather pass 
In coats of glossy hue, 

And flower faces in the grass 
Lift eyes of diamond dew. 

O, Lantern of the Infinite! 

Our Lord, The Sun! We dedicate 
Our lives to you. 

The Sun: 

I give to earth the blessed light 
As, glancing down in level flight, 

My golden arrows fall. 

(Shoots golden arrows about the stage, that are picked up by 
Bluebird, Blackbird, Camp Robber, Oriole, Anemone, Butter¬ 
cup, Paint Brush and Larkspur.) 

Out Doors and Mother Nature: 

We live within a mansion green, 

Where pools of sunlight fall between 
The purple shadows veil. 



THE AWAKENING 


<) 


Then shed, O Sun, your golden rays 

Upon the winding trail 

That lures us on with vagrant ways, 

Where pilot bluejays sail. 

The Sun: 

The Lantern of the Infinite, 

Tne Sun am I—compassionate— 

With love for all. 

Oi r Doors and Mother Nature: 

We pray, O Sun, do not abate 
The light that makes us animate, 

Lest joy shall fail. 

(Attended by the Woods Folk The Sun ascends to the rear bank, 
seats himself upon a golden throne. The Woods Folk pro^m- 
enade in review, but suddenly “ freeze .”) 


Pa \: 

I hear an alien sound. It is the snap 
Of deadwood on the ground. And now the clap 
Of Mother Nature’s hands. The Woods Folk freeze, 

And stand as still as are the silent trees. 

(General Public enters, disconsolate, homesick for the city that 
he has left.) 

General Public: 

The doctor told me Out Doors would be here, 

A woodland sprite, dispensing rest and cheer 
To wearied mortal who will tell his needs— 

But naught I find save bug-infested wee:ls. 

(Kicks petulantly at the flowers. Globe Cactus, who has been 
crouched motionless behind his shield, springs erect.) 


Pan : 

The Warrior Cactus rears his head in ire— 

In bristling armor; morion crowned with fire— 

He’ll teach that lout to do no injury 
To timid flowers—watch the villain flee. 

(Cactus jabs General Public viciously with his lance). 

General Public: 

I’m stabbed! What’s that? If I bu-t dared I’d kick 
That spiny thing. It certainly can stick. 

(Backs warily away from Cactus and almost stumbles over Out 

Doors). 





10 


THE AWAKENING 


Perchance, are you Out Doors? 

Out Doors: 

To those who wake 

To Nature’s charms. 

General Public: 

Um-m! She’s not hard to take. 


Out Doors: 

To him who wanders here with kindly heart, 

Who seeks to leave behind the busy mart 
Of men—its dull despairs and raucous noise— 

The trees shall give their dignity and poise, 

The birds shall sing their sweetest notes and bars; 

His thoughts shall take the grandeur of the stars. 

The mighty hills shall bring to him surcease 
From pain, shall fill his soul with lasting peace. 

General Public ( boastfully ): 

Immense, ’tis true, but they cannot compare 
In dignity with city blocks: and fair 
Enow the stars—our stars are not so bright— 

But you should see our movie row at night! 

Your woods are wide—but have you seen the trees 
That grace our parks and drives? Not harsh, like these, 
Nor scattered, helter-skelter-like the pine, 

But set in geometrical design. 

Our velvet lawns, our beds of formal flow’rs, 

Excel by far your choicest woodland bow’rs. 

And melodies of birds? Give me the thrill 
Of syncopated song in vaudeville. 

Out Doors ( indignantly ): 

How came you here? You do not love our hills. 

General Public: 

The doctor said that I must rest—or die. Two ills 
Confronted me. I chose the worst. 

Out Doors ( distressed ): 

Ah, no! 

The Warrior Cactus, true, was rude—but so 
Because you hurt a flow’r. 

General Public: 

Is that his name? 

Had I an army like him I could tame 
The evil foe who drove me here to lurk— 




THE AWAKENING 


11 


Out Doors: 

And who is he? 

General Public {bitterly): 

The Genie Overwork. 

Out Doors: 

Your ills may be relieved—no anodyne 
Can match the odor of the fragrant pine. 

General Public: 

These dreary woods cast over me a pall— 

A plague on them. I hear the city call. 

(sings) 

Have you heard the city call, 

Heard the traffic roaring, 

Seen the buildings, huge and tall, 

Into Heaven soaring? 

Heard the tread of marching feet, 

Watched the faces flowing? 

There—as coals in furnace heat— 

Vital life is glowing. 

Have you watched the people pour, 

Every doorway storming. 

In and out the crowded store, 

Like an ant-hill swarming? 

Heard the music in the night, 

Love and laughter stirring? 

Cities of the brilliant light 
All the moths are luring. 

(Face lifted, lips smiling, eyes fixed on distance General Public 
draws away). 

Out Doors (in satirical tone): 

A stranger in our woods. How well he sings— 

Yet tells not of the moths that singe their wings. 

(sings) 

Lovely Butterflies and Bees 
Float about us in the air, 

Pollen-freighted agents these, 

Couriers of flowers fair. 

Ne'er did argonaut of old, 

Sailing homeward, bear 




12 


THE AWAKENING 


Argosies of gems or gold, 

Half so rich or rare. 

“Pretty things,” I hear you say, 

“But, my dear, what good are they?” 

Lovely Bees and Butterflies— 

Save for them the flower dies. 

(The wings of Butterfly enter from opposite sides of stage and 
perforin a stately duet dance , culminating tolien the wings unite 
and form the perfect Butterfly. As Butterly comes to rest Oriole 
bursts forth in a whistled solo. Spring. Bluebird. Camp Bird. 
Blackbird , Oriole, Anemone, Buttercup, Paint Brush, and Lark¬ 
spur exit to a march step, as Mother Nature sings). 

Mother Nature: 

Bluebird March and Camp Bird April, 

Blackbird May and Oriole June, 

Plumage arch and throats a-thrill— 

Spring comes tripping by in tune. 

Wind Flow’r March and Buttercup April, 

Paint Brush May and Larkspur June, 

Flowers change as seasons will— 

Spring, like youth, must pass too soon. 


CURTAIN. 



THE AWAKENING 


1 


*> 
r > 


EPISODE II. 

Scene. The Forest . on a peaceful summer afternoon. 
(Chipmunk ancl Weazel enact Pan's prelude). 


Pan: 

Two hundred years ago, upon this spot, 

A vagrant Chipmunk wandered, like as not, 

The ancestor of this elusive scold, 

The newsboy of the forest, saucy, bold. 

Beneath the gnarled branches of a spruce 
He found a cone, and pried the kernal loose, 

But, while he turned it in his paws, there came 
A wicked Weazel, lean, with eyes a-flame. 

The Chipmunk fled, the Weazel in pursuit, 

And, when it fell, the naked seed took root 

Where now this kingly Spruce Tree rears his head— 

There lies the ancient king, among the dead. 

It is the birthday of the living Tree— 

The Woods Folk soon will hold his jubilee. 

'The seed that fell but now upon the ground 
Will someday dominate the forest round. 

(Enter Out Doors , peering cautiously about. She tiptoes back and 
leads General Public to a fallen log , motioning him to sit beside 
her). 

Out Doors: 

Be quiet, now, and I will help you see 

The Woods’ Folk play. But they will not be free 

If you should make a sound, or move a hand— 

And would you know me you must understand 
The secrets of the wild. ’Tis thus or so— 

You either love Out Doors, or are her foe. 

The old Tree hears not well, but sit you still, 

Mayhap you then will see— 

General Public (wonderingly ): 

But, girl, until 

You spoke I thought no other here but me. 

Out Doors: 

Are you, then, blind? What see you there? 




14 


THE AWAKENING 


General Public (with growing bewilderment): 

A tree. 

(Suddenly he smiles, opens a pocket-knife and starts to carve upon 
the tree-trunk.) 

* 

General Public: 

Oh, gentle creature, wild as any deer, 

I’ll carve our love upon the tree-trunk here— 

Two hearts entwined as one. 

Out Doors (stopping him): 

No—no, not yet, 

Or you could never thus so soon forget 
My lesson. Know then, that the Tree’s life-sap 
Plows just beneath the bark that you would tap. 

(Elfin music is heard faintly, growing clearer. Out Doors hastily 
draws General Public back to the log and signs for silence. Enter 
Mother Nature and the Wood)s Folk, the Bull Frogs leading Birth¬ 
day Cake. Each Frog carries a toadstool under one arm). 


Pan: 

The Woods Folk come with merry prank and play 
To hold a summer festival and pay 
Their homage to the oldest living thing 
Within the forest bounds. The Bull Frogs bring 
A Birthday Cake, by Mother Nature stirred. 

For it the squirrels collected nuts; each bird 
Contributed an egg; the bees brought toll 
Of honeyed sweetness from each flower’s bowl. 

The Water Ouzel, bobbing like a gnome, 

The frosted icing gathered, in the foam 

From mountain streams, where wild, white waters roar; 

With troweled tail the Beaver smoothed it o’er. 

The shrubs sent berries by the birds from far; 

Each candle there was lit by shooting star. 

The hungry Chipmunk volunteers to bear 

The Cake upon his back; the debonair 

Old Magpie struts, and flirts her handsome tail— 

The slyest thief that e’er escaped a jail. 

The pirate Camp Bird, too, comes sailing by 
And cocks upon the Cake a knowing eye, 

While Molly Cottontail, with graceful bound, 



THE AWAKENING 


15 


In frolic kicks her heels and scampers round. 

But all in vain: his ready lance at rest, 

The Cactus warns away the early guest. 

(The Bull Frogs leave their burden near Spruce Tree, hop to the 
rear bank and solemnly seat themselves upon the toadstools, while 
Cactus does sentry duty around the Cake). 

(Duet) 

Mother Nature: 

Awake, O stately Tree! Desert your dreams. 

The Woods Polk would do honor as beseems 
Those sheltered long beneath your gnarled snags— 

More ancient than the Eagle of the Crags. 

(The Woods Folk gather round in attentive attitudes as the Spirit 
of the Spruce Tree, until now a gnarled and motionless limb upon 
the bole of a great spruce, separates from the trunk and steps 
stiffly forward). 

Spruce tree: 

My voice is but a sigh. Yet what I can 
I’ll tell you (breaking my long silence now) 

Of those who rested on my limb and bough. 

Two hundred summers have I given shade 
To all who came to me, and gladly made 
A shelter ’mid my needles, where might rest 
The saucy squirrel, where bird might build its nest. 

I’ve cradled Snow Flake here, until the Sun 
Has warmed my breast and bid the water run 
Adown my limbs, and trickle to the ground 
Where thirsty flow’r and waving grass abound. 

For I am Conservation. But for me 

The Woods Folk could not live. I am the Tree. 

Spruce Tree and Mother Nature: 

The Tree shall hold in check the snow, and foil 
The raging floods that wash away the soil. 

Without the Tree the heart of Spring would burst 
In grief to see her children die of thirst; 

A thousand miles below the forest stand, 

Gaunt Famine soon would ravish all the land, 

And, sweeping to the haunts of Man, in scorn 
Would sack his furrowed fields, would steal his corn. 



THE AWAKENING 


10 


Spruce Tree: 

I am the Tree! I am the kingly Tree! 
And everlasting peace abides in me, 
And peace abides in me. 


Pan: 

The Bull Progs to the party add their share; 

Comedians are they, grotesque and rare. 

In vest of white, in green and spotted cloak, 

Each flops about, and gives a hollow croak. 

(The Frogs croak lugubriously for a moment , then do an eccentric 
dance and disappear suddenly, taking the Cake with them, to the 
consternation of Magpie and Chipmunk. All motion ceases as 
General Public's voice is heard.) 


General Public (sings): 

Ah, Love, if I were but a tree 
I’d stretch my arms to you, 

I’d call the vagrant breeze to me. 

And on his wings I’d woo. 

Ah, Love, if you were but a bird 
Returned from Southern skies, 

Mayhap you’d hear my whispered word 
Of love, my lonely sighs. 

Were you a bird and I a tree, 

Symmetrical and strong, 

Mayhap you’d wing your way to me 
And tell your love in song. 

(He lights a match and throws it carelessly to one side.) 


Pan : 

He is a friend of our great enemy, 

The Demon Fire. The Woods Folk turn to flee: 
But Rain, advancing in the tumult, stays 
With sudden, crystal show’r, the threatened blaze; 
While Chipmunk, darting near, imprudent, bold, 
Entreats Out Doors the careless fool to scold. 


(Chipmunk nudges Out Doors and motions her to come away.) 



THE AWAKENING 


17 


Out Doors: 

He does not understand. He is ot' men. 

I will instruct him and— 

General Public: 

What said you then? 

Out Doors: 

The Woods Folk do not like to see you play 
With Demon Fire. 

General Public: 

The Woods Folk? Who are they? 

(He glances over his shoulder, sees Chipmunk, and throws a stone 
at him.) 

Out Doors: 

Ah! Do not hurt the children of the wild! 

Predominant is ruling Man, self-styled 
The Wise, the Reasoner—above the beast. 

Would you, then, be disdainful of the least 
Of Nature’s creatures? You, with master mind? 

And they are all so beautiful and kind. 

When Man was in the Neolithic stage, 

With half-a-soul, enslaved by lust and rage, 

The Tree it was that raised him from the mire, 

That taught him how to prison Demon Fire. 

In later ages, too, it was the Tree 

That gave him shelter, built his ships at sea. 

The kindly Woods Folk, with their gentle eyes, 

That lurk about, have since the primal skies 
Bestowed their coats on Man to keep him warm. 

Give still their furs his women to adorn. 

In many ages they have saved the Race 

From Famine and from death, and by the grace 

Of Him, who gave Man life, and placed them here, 

They’ve helped Man conquer many a wild frontier. 

The flowers, too, have brought him endless gain, 

The herbs have healed his sickness, soothed his pain; 

And e’en the savage wolf, when all was fog, 

Evolved to be his faithful friend—the dog. 

All patient through the centuries they give 
Their lives, their all, to Man that he may live. 

To all his vanities, to all his needs, 

To every call old Mother Nature speeds. 

Why, then, should Man, the Reasoner, destroy 
With wanton waste the sources of his joy? 



18 


THE AWAKENING 


General Public (puzzled but impressed) : 

A wondrous tale. But—what’s a Chipmunk worth? 

Out Doors: 

He is, with you, a child of Mother Earth. 

(General Public ponders this thought for a moment, but, failing to 
understand, loses interest, yawns and stretches.) 

General Public: 

Ho-hum! Out Doors, when does the party start? 

(Out Doors makes a despairing gesture, then seeks to claim his at¬ 
tention and relieve the anxiety of the Woods Folk by cuddling 
close to him.) 

Out Doors: 

Let’s talk of something else. 

General Public (sentimentally): 

About the heart? 

(General Public becomes oblivious to his surroundings, and the 
Woods Folk relax, point at the couple and smile. An Ant enters 
through a hole in the bank, where he has his ant-hill. Seeing no 
enemies he returns and helps forth the Aphid. Other Ants and 
Aphids follow in single file.) 

Out Doors (impulsively): 

The Ants and Aphids! Did you never hear 
The story of their love—so quaint, so queer? 

(General Public shakes his head sulkily.) 

On summer days the Aphid scatters dew 
Upon the leaves—like honey—sticky, too. 

The Ant eats this sweet food, and guards his love 
From other insects in the trees above. 

When winter comes he carries her below, 

Within his domy house, away from snow. 

Of all the lovers none are quite so true. 

As Ant to Aphid— 

General Public (with lovelorn sigh): 

Or as I to you. 


( Duet ) 





THE AWAKENING 


19 


The Ant: 

In the summertime, in the Green Tree Land, 

When you are a fay and I a brigand, 

From all other lovers I’ll guard you true, 

But rob you, sweet, of your honeydew. 

(Refrain) 

Honey Dew, my love is true, 

In Insect Land, fay and brigand, 

We live and die beneath the sky, 

So deep and blue—My Honey Dew! 

The Aphid: 

O, gentle robber! O, bold brigand! 

Your heart is the bravest in Insect Land; 

Take all my honey, dear robber bold, 

For you I gathered my virgin gold. 

The Ant: 

When the snows have come, and, the winter chill, 

We shall live in the halls of the big ant hill; 

Like a Samurai in my coat of mail, 

By my two great swords shall I live or fail. 

The Aphid: 

0, my warrior bold, with your two great swords, 

To you I entrust my golden hoards, 

With your waving antennae pray kiss my bill, 

While we live in the halls of the big ant hill. 

Honey Dew, my love is true, 

In Insect Land, fay and brigand, 

We live and die beneath the sky. 

So deep and blue. My Honey Dew! 

(The Woads Folk fall in line and file by General Public and Out 
Doors.) 


Pan: 

Through all the wooded hills, like thread of gold, 
There runs the motive thought—to have—to hold— 
The Ants and Aphids, flowers and the birds, 

File by in tune unto those magic words. 

With mincing steps, with sighs and glances arch, 

In carefree play they hold a wedding march, 





t>0 


THE AWAKENING 


And foot it to the merry Pipes of Pan, 

To tease the maid, and mock the love-blind Man. 

(Magpie officiates in marrying Ant and Aphid. The other Ants and 
Aphids act as best men and bridesmaids; then disappear through 
the ant hill door.) 

Pan (as Columbine enters): 

The fairest flow’r of all! Sweet Columbine 
Is worthy of an ode, a sacred shrine; 

The symbol and the soul of all the wild— 

When Columbine was born the angels smiled. 

General Public: 

Ah! What a lovely flower here—the blue 
Shall tell that love like mine is always true. 

The white is pure—like you. 

(Jerks Columbine from her place and drags her toward Out Doors. 
The Woods Folk shudder and cover their faces with their hands.) 

Out Doors (shrinking as from a murderer): 

Poor Columbine! 

Her nature is so delicate and fine, 

Her feet so lightly rooted she will die 
Whene’er she’s handled roughly. Hear her sigh! 

(General Public lets Columbine fall and draws back uncertainly, 
passing his hand across his eyes. He silently watches Out Doors 
min to Columbine's side.) 

Out Doors (sings): 

Though mine eyes have seen the beauty 
Of the lilies, and the glow 
Of the scarlet Flanders poppies 
Nodding gravely, row on row, 

There’s a flower in my homeland 
That the angels might entwine 
In their hair to give it lustre— 

Colorado’s Columbine. 

(Refrain): 

Sweet Columbine, Sweet Columbine, 

Beneath the aspen and the pine, 

You seem a gift from Heaven above, 

How fair you blow, like sky and snow, 

The spirit of the land I love— 

The flower of this state of mine, 

Sweet Columbine, Sweet Columbine. 



THE AWAKENING 


21 


When the sun sheds golden glory 
O’er the far-flung hills at dawn, 

From a world azure and silver 
Are your lovely colors drawn, 

From the great white peaks that tower, 
And the glacial lakes below, 

From the deep blue sky above you, 
And the pearly clouds a-blow. 

(Refrain.) 


(CURTAIN) 



22 


THE AWAKENING 


Scene: 


EPISODE III. 


(Sunset hour in the Forest on an autumn evening. Patches of gold¬ 
en quaking aspen mingle ivith the dark green of the spruces. Gen¬ 
eral Public is seated disconsolately on the bank.) 


Pan: 

Across the Great Divide the final flight 
Of golden arrows, shot by Father Sun, 

Brings tidings to the world that day is done. 

Amid the trees foregather shades of night, 

And twilight drifts along the mountain bar. 

Below the East horizon steals the glow 
Of rising Moon. The shadows ebb and flow, 

And lightly through the trees comes Evening Star. 

General Public: 

I think that she must be displeased with me 
For I have sought in vain behind each tree, 

And searched through every wooded: nook so long. 

I have not seen her since she sang the song 
Of Columbine. I yearn for her. 

The Owl (a voice of the night)-. 

Who? Who? 


General Public: 

Out Doors, old Owl, that sweet and gentle child 
Who sought to teach me secrets of the wild. 

(Evening Star dances in graceful, controlled measure as tranquil 
music floats upon the air.) 

General Public (sings): 

O, Evening Star, 

How beautiful you are. 

Above the world 
So mystical and far. 

Are you the soul 
Of her whom I adore? 

And has she gone 
From me, forevermore? 

Oh, ray serene, 

By countless lovers seen. 

With my lost love 




THE AWAKENING 


23 


I pray you intervene. 

Oh, lead me on 

To where her feet doth stray 

With fairy step 

Along your shining way. 

(As the song draws to a close, Evening Star glides from sight.) 
Pan: 

The eerie Night arrives with backward glance, 

A bursting bomb of inky Bats, that dance 
In headlong flight, a dizzy rigadoon, 

To usher forth their sovereign Queen—the Moon. 

(The erratic, fitful movement of the Bats is followed immediately 
by the solo dance of Moon. The Moon beams follow, as Out Doors 
steals upon the stage, hiding from General Public.) 

Out Doors: 

0, Moonbeams of the summer night, 

O, Moonbeams of the soft, clear light, 

The world beneath your magic seems 
A fairy place of love and dreams. 

Sweet memories throng forth to dance 
Upon your quiv’ring radiance, 

And silver-footed fancies take 
The sparkling pathway o'er the lake. 

(Refrain): 

O, Moon of love and languor, 

O, Moon of summer night, 

Oh, tell me please the whyfor 
You thrill me with delight. 

Is it because you clad her 
Wee feet with silver shoon? 

Or did you lend; her eyes, dear, 

The mystic light of the Moon. 

O, Harvest Moon, 0 Blood-Red Moon, 

With hayricks creaking out of tune, 

O Blue Moon that the wild folks know, 

O Mating Moon that they love so; 

A vision every Moonbeam brings— 

There comes the glint of silver wings, 

And, lighter than a breath of air, 

Love’s kiss is laid upon her hair. 



THE AWAKENING 


‘24 


General Public (in ecstacy): 

It is her voice, her own sweet voice, 

And I must follow on—I have no choice. 

(Rushes after the receding Moonbeams. The stage has by this time 
become dark.) 

Our Doors: 

He is succumbing fast to Nature’s spell, 

Sometimes he hears the voices. I can tell 
That soon the light will come to his dear eyes. 

Come folks and dance. Where are the Fireflies? 

(The music holds the love them while the Fireflies dance.) 

(Suddenly an automobile horn toots. With boisterous laughter, 
loud talk and rude actions a group of Picnickers enter, coming 
through the audience. They are dressed in ridiculous manner for 
an outing in the hills. The women wear outing trousers, silk 
stockings, low shoes, and peek-a-boo or georgette waists. The 
men have straw hats, silk shirts, white duck trousers .and low 
shoes. They cluster about a Forest Service sign, momentarily 
quiet as they read.) 


Pan : 

The Picnickers arrive! Now woe betide 
The flowers, far too innocent to fear. 

Alone the Camp Bird boldly lingers near— 

In panic all the other Woods Folk hide. 

Destruction (pointing to sign): 

Guests please register. {Laughter.) 

Thoughtlessness : 

Let’s write our names. ( Writes—then points to the sign.) 
Thoughtlessness—that’s me! 

Selfishness : 

Let me register next. 1 ought to come first. 

There—Selfishness. 

Carelessness (scrawls diagonally across sign.): 

I’m not much on style but you see “Carelessness” when I get through. 

Contamination : 

C-o-n-t-a-m-i-n-a-t-i-o-n. Contamination! 

Vandalism : 

There’s my moniker—Vandalism! Watch me put a period to it. 

(Picks up stone and hurls it at sign.) 





THE AWAKENING 


25 


Destruction : 

Last, but not least—yours truly—Destruction! 

Gee! This is a dandy thing to start our fire. 

(Tears down the sign, carries it toward the pool, and chops it up. 
Contamination and Vandalism stroll clumsily about, bumping 
into such Woods Folk as get in their way, while the women un¬ 
pack the lunch, Selfishness sampling each article of food.) 

Destruction : 

This wood is damp. I can’t start the fire. 

Carelessness (smooths out a newspaper and glances over the page): 

Here’s a piece in this paper about forest fires. (Reads): “Forest fires 
each year destroy enough timber to build a city as large as Chicago. 
Burn your papers and rubbish, and put out your camp fire before 
you leave.’’ 

Thoughtlessness (yawns): 

Give that to Destruction. It’s dry enough to start a fire in the rain. 

(Carelessness hands the paper to Destruction . scattering others over 
the ground.) 

Contamination (peeling a banana): 

I wonder if there’s fish in this pool? I’ll feed them. 

(He throws the peeling into the loater, then deliberately spits in 
the pool.) 

Thoughtlessness : 

Now, you’ve spoiled the water and I wanted a drink. Don’t you ever 
think of others? 

(The Picnickers gather round the fire to eat lunch.) 

Pan: 

Ah! Evil is the day when that young fool 
Comes hither to contaminate the pool. 

The limpid spring that careless men defile 

Soon swarms with deadly germs—with Typhoid vile. 

A host of pests the stagnant waters bring— 

Mosquito grinds his fever-laden sting. 

(Enter Mosquitoes. They carry grindstones upon ivhich they 
sharpen their bills; then, tentatively try them upon the Pic¬ 
nickers, who slap savagely at the insects.) 





20 


THE AWAKENING 


Mosquito (the leader sings) : 

I am a most affectionate Mosquito, 

My mother is Contaminated Water, 

I have a lengthy bill the doctors envy— 

And Fever is—my daughter. 

(Chorus of Mosquitoes): 

Zizz-Zizz-Zizz! Zizz-Zizz-Zizz! 

How I love mankind—Gee Whiz! 

Think a baby is a dream, 

Love a lady with cold cream 
Spread upon her phiz— 

Aids my drill to make her scream. 

Zizz-Zizz-Zizz! 

I am an ardent devotee of fashion, 

I simply love the peek-a-boo creation, 

Those clockwork stockings sure increase my ration— 

And cause me—much elation. 

( Chorus.) 

Selfishness : 

Oh, ain’t these flowers cute? What’s their name? 

They came up by the root and got me all over dirt. 

Out Doors: 

Oh, stop her please! Prevent these cruel deeds. 

The plants have been destroyed! There’ll be no seeds. 

(Cactus jabs Selfishness violently. She screams, drops the flowers 
and rushes to the fire.) 

Selfishness: 

A rattlesnake bit me! I’m going to die! 

Vandalism : 

It’s just a Cactus. I’ll chop it down. 

(Strikes at Cactus with the ax, but meets the same fate, and has¬ 
tily retreats, nursing his arm.) 

Stick where you are, then ( Dodges a feint by Cactus). I'll go else¬ 
where. 

Selfishness: 

Hit him again. Don’t you love me, any more? 

Vandalism (abstractedly, watching Cactus): 

Yes—oh, yes. (Aside) Up to a certain point. 

(The Mosquitoes renew their attack in a cloud, and the Picnickers 
slap vigorously.) 




27 


tiip: awakening 


Selfishness: 

Cactus! Mosquitoes! This is a rotten place you boys brought us. 

Vandalism: 

Let’s shoo them away. 

(Breaks a branch from a, tree and waves it desperately , while the 
others follow his example. Mosquito leads Malaria forward.) 

Malaria (sings): 

I am a microscopic germ 
From far away Liberia, 

My grip upon mankind is firm— 

I am the dread Malaria. 

(Chorus of Mosquitoes): 

O Laria! Ma-Laria! 

The fairest of bacteria, 

In ecstacy my being thrills 
To all your sweet miasmic chills— 

My microbe from Liberia! 

Or did you say Algeria? 

(Mosquito and Malaria sting Selfishness, who suddenly sinks to 
the ground in extreme weariness, then has a violent chill.) 

Selfishness (wailing): 

I’m cold. I’ve got a chill—I’m going to die! 

Malaria : 

I travel on Mosquito’s wing, 

(He loves his dear Malaria); 

I enter humans through his sting, 

And drive them to hysteria. 

(Chorus.) 

(Camp Robber cautiously sails toward center stage in a long, grace¬ 
ful glide, snatches a crust of bread and starts away.) 

Contamination : 

Look at that bird. 

Carelessness: 

Ain’t he got nerve. 

Destruction : 

But watch me get him. (Seizes a gun and shoots Camp Robber.) 

Out Doors (frantically): 

Oh, cruel Man! 




28 


THE AWAKENING 


General Public (his conscience stung): 

That measure was too strong— 

The little bird was doing him no wrong. 

(The Picnickers gather around Camp Robber and laugh callously 
at the dying bird.) 

Carelessness: 

These Mosquitoes are getting fierce. 

Selfishness: 

Aw! Let’s go somewhere else. This place is the bunk. 

(Destruction throws a lighted cigarette to the ground and the Pic¬ 
nickers exit, followed through the audience by the Mosquitoes, 
singing Zizz-Zizz-Zizz ! Out Doors, General Public, Mother Rap¬ 
ture and the Woods Folk carry Camp Robber away. The glow 
from the burning fire spreads, and North Wind is seen fanning 
the blaze. With a burst of fiendish laughter Fire appears.) 

Demon Fire (sings): 

Come friend, blow hard! And whistle Cigarette! 

(North Wind whistles shrilly.) 

Chinook is wooing Rain. We have time yet 
To blast the hateful Tree—the foe of Fire. 

(Cigarette enters and runs to Fire.) 

Away! Begone! We’ll make these woods the pyre 
Of every bird and! beast. Destroy their stores, 

And bring to me the beautiful Out Doors. 

(North Wind and Cigarette dash off to execute Fire's orders, Cig¬ 
arette starting blazes as he goes. The stage becomes bathed in 
crimson light. A steady roar of wind and flames is heard.) * 

Demon Fire (sings) : 

I am the Demon Fire! 

Once I dwelt not below. 

In the dim, long ago 
My place was higher. 

I was the Element 
Primal, the Fire Mist, 

Over the Earth I hissed— 

From Chaos sent. 




THE AWAKENING 


29 


Mine was the shaping hand; 

After me came the slime. 

Life sprang from it in time— 

Then came the Land. 

I, in destroying ire, 

Lit the volcanic cone, 

Lightning obeyed my tone— 

My wrath was dire. 

There from my burning throne 
I drove the sunsets on, 

Kindled the splendid dawn— 

Ruled I alone. 

Then came accursed Man, 

Creature of slime and ooze, 

Stole me by crime and ruse, 

Chained me and ran. 

I, that was Lord, and free, 

Come at his beck and call. 

Life could not hold me thrall 
Save for the Tree. 

I call my ally, Breeze, 

Summon the Firebrand, 
x Issue my stern command— 

Burn all the Trees! 

Blazes climb higher! Higher! 

Nothing my wrath shall quell, 

Glaring and terrible— 

I am the Fire! 

Flames of my hot desire, 

Leap to the firmament. 

Roaring, magnificent— 

I am the Fire! 

(Six Flames a)nd six Blazes leap from concealment and whirl about 
Fire in a mad, furious dance. North Wind enters, driving before 
him a group of fluttering Autumn Leaves.) 

North Wind (sings): 

Whirl on! Whirl on! You silly, rustling leaves; 

On every hill your Mother Aspen grieves, 

And quaking when she hears the North Wind howl, 

The hour dreads when she must don my cowl 






THE AWAKENING 


*> 

O 


0 


Of snow. Engirt by Flames the Demon Fire 
Awaits his pretty leaves with fierce desire. 

(Flames and Blazes swoop forward. surround Autumn Leaves and 
drive them to the icings, consuming them.) 

( Quartette) 

Spruce Tree: 

Two hundred winters have I faced the foe, 

Defied the North Wind, triumphed o’er the snow. 

General Public (enters hurriedly) : 

The Demon Fire has swept Out Doors from me. 

And clothed in sheets of flame her friend the Tree. 

Demon Fire: 

In triumph now I sound my battle-cry, 

And fling my lurid banners to the sky. 

North Wind: 

I fan the Flames! I shepherd Winter snows! 

All Nature shrinks in fear when North Wind blows. 

Spruce Tree: 

Unbowed I’ve held my lordly head on high, 

In grandeur lived, and grandly shall I die. 

General Public: 

Are these the woods that gave me sweet release 
From pain: her quiet refuge, filled with peace. 

(Spruce Tree, Fire. General Public, North Wind): 

The Woods Folk dash in panic, to and fro, 

Their joy has fled; their hearts are filled with woe. 

With spears of flame the Fire stabs the Tree, 

The Demon Fire burns his enemy. 

The Tree must go! The kindly Tree must go! 

Np more he’ll hear the bird songs, sweet and low. 

Above the storm the Demon Fire roars, 

And who shall hear your feeble cry, Out Doors? 

Ah! Who shall heed Out Doors? 

(The Woods Folk are seen running wildly between the trees. Fire, 
Flames and Blazes whirl around while North Wind dashes away 
to find Out Doors. A Forest Guard enters.) 

Protection : 

Ah! Cigarette and all the vicious crew! 

I’ll chase the villain off. Here’s work to do. 

(Protection battles Fire and they struggle to the rear.) 



THE AWAKENING 


Protection (to General Public, who is bewildered): 

Come, lend a hand, good fellow, quick! This way! 

How stand you there indifferent? Woulds’t delay? 

Your playgrounds are attacked. The North Wind roars, 

And Fire seeks to kidnap fair Out Doors. 

Release your spirit, free your prisoned mind, 

Conventional ideas have made you blind. 

(General Public starts violently, and passes his hands over his eyes. 
The Woods Folk crowd, about him for the first time, pointing into 
the depths of the Forest. General Public rushes to the aid of 
Protection, and they drive Fire off-stage. The Woods Folk group 
together, gesticulating anxiously. Fire, Flames, Blazes, North 
Wind, Cigarette, flee across the back stage, silhouetted against 
the sky. General Public enters from the top bank, carrying Out 
Doors to the front stage, where he lays her upon the ground. 
The gray light of another daivn steals through the devastated 
Forest. Rain enters, sprinkling drops of water over the ground. 
The light steadily grows stronger as General Public sings.) 

Ge x era l Public : 

Out Doors, come back! Do not desert me now! 

Oh, gentle Woods Folk, hear my earnest vow. 

I’ve been so heedless of this kindly band. 

But so because I did not understand. 

I shall be grateful to the Tree for shade, 

Of me the Chipmunk shall not be afraid; 

The happy birds I never shall molest, 

And flowers, where they grow, I’ll love the best. 

This hand shall never more in sport despoil 
The Tree of bough; contaminate or soil 
The pure waters of the spring; no spark 
Shall lurk behind me in my fires to mark 
The trail of selfishness; my camps shall tell 
That here passed one who loved Out Doors so well 
He left her as he found her, sweet and kind, 

To cheer the weary heart, the tired mind. 

(Out Doors gradually revives and smiles icith delight at his words. 
She stretches her arms to the audience and sings.) 

Out Doors: 

Though dying I shall rise to those who woo 
With kindly words. Won’t you protect me, too? 

(The Woods Folk laugh happily as a rainbow' of promise appears 
in the sky.) 





















THE APHID 


% 



















